Caps Must Amp Up On the Power Play

The Washington Capitals have yielded two goals, the penalty kill unit is 12 for 12, Alex Ovechkin's defense has been exemplary, and goaltenders Olie Kolzig and Brent Johnson have been superb.

The Capitals, in other words, have had plenty to be excited about during the season's opening week. They are 3-0 for the first time in five years and have the third-best record in the NHL.

Yet despite all those positives, Coach Glen Hanlon said he's under no illusions -- yet.

"I've got 16 years as a player and 14 as a coach," he said after yesterday's practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. "I've been on teams that have won [the first] three games before. It doesn't get you anywhere. We've still got a long way to go and a lot of work to do."

Hanlon doesn't have to look any further than his team's slumping power play to find one of its few shortcomings. Although a summertime infusion of free agents has provided the unit with a much-needed boost in skill, it has not meshed; as a result, it has gone 2 for 17 (11.8 percent).

The power play's problems were underscored during Monday's 2-1 victory over the Islanders. Without injured right wing Alexander Semin, who could miss another week, it failed to score on six opportunities, including a lengthy five-on-three advantage. Despite a total of 8 minutes 45 seconds on the power play, it mustered only one shot on goal.

"We have to put the puzzle together," said veteran center Michael Nylander, who has one of the power-play strikes. "We have to find the things that work for the five people who are out there. Sometimes it happens right away; sometimes it takes a while."

Chemistry notwithstanding, Nylander and Ovechkin also said the power play also must do a better job of gaining the offensive zone and setting up while reducing the number of high-risk plays and shooting more. Hanlon said he would like to see more blasts from the blueline, in particular, because an effective point shot backs off defenders and creates rebound opportunities.

"We're not burying our heads in the sand and saying we don't have some things to do," Hanlon said. "But we don't see foresee this being [ranked 22nd] after 82 games. Power plays are cyclical. Lots of times it can just be a matter of luck."

"You're more concerned when you're losing," he added with a smile.

Semin's right ankle sprain is also hurting the power play. The plan entering the season was to use two balanced units in an effort to wear down the opposition with relentless pressure. But playing without Semin, who scored 17 of his 38 goals last season on the power play, has reduced the plan's potency.

The Russian winger has been ruled out for tomorrow's game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden and Saturday's contest in Buffalo, General Manager George McPhee said. McPhee added he hopes Semin can return next Thursday against the Islanders. That, however, could be optimistic given the fact that the injury has been slow to respond to treatment and rest. He skated lightly on his own for about 10 minutes yesterday.

Semin suffered the injury in a preseason game and missed the regular season opener in Atlanta. He returned against Carolina and recorded an assist on Milan Jurcina's power-play goal, but tweaked his ankle and hasn't skated with his teammates since.

"It's an ankle sprain, so you just never know," McPhee said, shrugging. "It could be a few days or a few weeks."

Asked how much the power play has missed Semin, Ovechkin paused before answering.

"We miss him a lot," he said of his close friend. "But it's good that [despite] Semin's injury, we're still winning. I hope when he comes back, we win more and more."